Tag Archives: WFAN

Jerry Manuel talked with WFAN today at 5 pm, for his weekly interview with Mike Francesa.

To listen to the entire interview, click here.

During the discussion, Manuel said the team essentially sat in disbelief when Fernando Nieve went down with a torn quad muscle, suggesting a feeling of ‘what next?’

Manuel agreed with Francesa that Angel Pagan is a great outfielder to have on the team, because he is so versatile in strong on both offense and defense.

Manuel said he likes what he’s seen so far from Jeff Francoeur, noting he is very positive, team-oriented, and loves to work ask questions.

Manuel said, he told David Wright, “If you can live through these times, and you begin to see things change, and get right, you have now the right to step up and say, ‘I’ve been through it.’”

Daniel Murphy has found a home at first base, Manuel acknowledged, saying he believes Murphy can be strong enough on offense at first base once other hitters return from the disabled list.

In the end, Manuel says the current, topical issues involving management and team doctors have had zero impact on the team.

The biggest issue, by far, he said, is the unknown status of players like Carlos Delgado, Carlos Beltran, John Maine and Jose Reyes.

Again, to listen to the entire interview, click here.

Tagged Omar Minaya, WFAN |

This afternoon on WFAN, co-host Evan Roberts said, according to people he has talked to in the organization, the Mets do not have an Old-Timer’s Game, ‘because it’s too much work.’

…jeeez… too much work… really… i guess i understand that… it’s just, as a fan, who is proud of this team’s history, i’d love to see guys like Keith Hernandez, Gary Carter, Tom Seaver, maybe Mike Piazza, Robin Ventura, etc., on field, having fun, and playing again…

…although, since the Championship Banners are tucked away, hidden, facing the chop shops, and since nobody has any idea where the World Series trophies are, i wouldn’t be surprised to see this Old Timer’s Game played in the Wiffle Ball field in center field…

Speaking of a World Series Trophy…

The 1986 Mets World Series Owner’s Trophy sold for $32,000 through Robert Edward Auctions.

…according to the auction, this is only one of three owner’s trophies made from 1986, and i’m going to assume it’s Nelson Doubleday’s…

Tagged WFAN |

John Franco is co-hosting today’s mid-day show on WFAN, and will soon welcome in Al Leiter as his guest.

To listen to WFAN live, online, click here.

…if these two take live calls from fans, what do you think is the under-over on phone calls about Scott Kazmir…

During spring training, I asked Franco about rumors of his involvement with Leiter in Kazmir being traded to the Rays.

To watch my interview with Franco, click here.

Tagged WFAN |

This morning I was a guest of Kim Jones and Adam Gerstenhaber on WFAN, during which we talked about blogging, the Mets, and the up-coming trade deadline.

To listen to the interview, click play below, or scroll down a transcript:

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Lastly, to listen live to WFAN, online, all day and all night, click here.

Kim Jones: How much does yesterday’s game (from Mike Pelfrey) change the outlook… Do fans feel better about the team today?

Matthew Cerrone: You know, I interact with hundreds sometimes thousands of fans every day, whether it’s through the comments section, or on e-mail, or on Twitter, and it’s roller coaster.  It’s been that way for years now.  I’m a Jets fan also, so I’m used to it.  But, that’s the way it is…

Yesterday was awesome, since the day before, obviously, was really rough, but who knows what today will bring, and that’s just the way it goes.  At the end of the day, though, I think we’re all still kind of shell-shocked from the end of the last couple of seasons that it’s hard to buy in to any kind of winning streak or excitement or hope.  I mean, even when things were going well this season in May, we were wondering, ‘Yeah, but, will it continue, and what’s gonna happen on that last day of the season.’  That’s always in the backs of our minds.  So, as great as yesterday was, there’s still that concern…

Adam Gerstenhaber: Do you think we’re gonna see a deal this season before the trade deadline at the end of the month?

Matthew Cerrone: Everyone is demanding that magic-bullet deal, but it’s obviously not out there.  It’s not like Omar Minaya is just sitting behind his desk, reading the newspaper and killing time.  Obviously, they’re looking and if the deal was out there they’d do it.  My hunch is they’re looking for the kind of player they got in Xavier Nady back in 2006, you know, somebody who is under contract, who can be with them beyond this season, probably arbitration eligible so the small market team doesn’t want to continue to pay them.  The names that keep popping up, be it from Ken Rosenthal, Jon Heyman, these guys, are names like Mark Teahen, Ryan Spilborghs, players like that.

Actually, I wanted to ask Kim about Alex Rios.  The Globe & Mail wrote a report saying Rios could be had for a bag of balls, as the Jays try to save money to work to sign Roy Halladay.  I don’t much about Rios.  But, I know it would be like signing him to a five-year, $60 million deal.  Kim, what do you make of him, because I know you’re seen him a lot?

Kim Jones: He is a guy who is supremely talented as they come, but who has never really put it all together… He’d be an intriguing guy to go get, but I guess I’d ask you, Matthew, what do the Mets have in the minor league system that they’d be willing to give up and how intrigued would other teams be – because, what you hear is the Mets don’t have a lot to offer that what other teams want?

Matthew Cerrone: Well, it always matters how they match up with the team that’s interested.  So, for instance, a team like the Indians, Bobby Parnell made perfect sense, they were clearly looking for a closer and Perez is who they were seeking, but they were interested in Parnell.  So, the Mets have those players… They draw a lot of interest in guys like Wilmer Flores, Brad Holt, Jennry Mejia… These guys get rave reviews, but they’re really young and it’s hard to build deals around them… This is why I keep going back to those players like Teahen, Spilborghs, these guys who are under contract, who the other team probably wants to get out from under, yet a team like the Mets can take them on without giving a whole lot to get them.  They’re not great hitters, they’re not game changers, but they’re bodies, they fill in and they factor in to the future.  My hunch is we’re looking at players like that, so they can protect the farm system.

Adam Gerstenhaber: Sure, but would they trade the big-time prospect to get the big-time player, if they could get him?

Matthew Cerrone: From what I hear, no… To me, it comes down to other teams who are interested, like the Red Sox.  Let’s just say for the sake of argument the Mets are looking for Adam Dunn or Matt Holliday, a team like the Cardinals have a richer farm system, if they’re equally interested then they’re gonna get him, the Red Sox will get him.  So, even if the Mets were willing, I think these other teams may have better packages to put together.

Tagged WFAN |

This morning at 7 am, I will be a guest on WFAN to talk blogging, the Mets and the trade market.

To listen live, click here.

…wish me luck…

…i had a wisdom tooth pulled around 12 hours ago… so, if i sound like Don Corleone, you’ll know why…

Tagged WFAN |

Mets manager Jerry Manuel is recently talked with Mike Francesa on WFAN

To listen live, go to WFAN.com.

Manuel committed to playing Fernando Martinez at least once during the Phillies series, he said, and chose to do so last night, against Jamie Moyer, because the team has had success against Moyer in the past.

“We need to see what we’ve got in this kid,” Manuel said.  “But, it might have been a mistake on my part.”

Manuel said Church will start in all three games against the Yankees.

He says he will use the games against the Yankees and Orioles, in American League parks, to determine how Martinez fits in with this team.

Lastly, Manuel said he and Omar Minaya still believe Daniel Murphy can ‘get the job done.’

To listen live, go to WFAN.com.

Tagged WFAN |

Jerry Manuel recently concluded his weekly interview with WFAN.

To listen to the full interview, go to WFAN.com.

During the discussion, Manuel said, from what he’s been told, Jose Reyes did not tear anything in his calf, and could still be back in time for the series against the Phillies next Tuesday.

Manuel said Gary Sheffield will not play during tomorrow’s day game, acknowledging that a rainout tonight would not be the worst thing for the overall health of his team.

Alex Cora is the type of player who is best served playing four or five times a week, Manuel explained to, and so, while he’ll certainly start at shortstop on occasion, he will not play everyday.

To listen to the entire interview, during which he also speaks about the development of Fernando Martinez; and how to deal with David Wright’s slump; the situation with J.J. Putz; go to WFAN.com.

Tagged WFAN |

Jerry Manuel will be a guest on WFAN with Mike Francesa at 4 pm today, who says he intends to ask the manager about his relationship with Ryan Church, and why Daniel Murphy has yet to play first base, among other topics.

To listen live, go to WFAN.com.

Update, 5:10 pm:

Manuel repeated what he told reporters yesterday, stating there are no issues between him and Ryan Church, ‘No issues, zero.’

Manuel said he was told by Razor Shines and Sandy Alomar that Church clearly missed third base at the time of Tuesday night’s play, which is why he did not argue with the umpire.

According to Manuel, his players know that he will only argue with the umpire in an effort to defend a player and to ‘argue for truth,’ saying he will not do it just to do it, especially when the player did not react as if the umpire was wrong.

The Mets need Church to live up to his potential, Manuel said, noting how Church is the only player he has spent time working one on one with in the batting cage.

In fact, Manuel believes he is tougher on Carlos Beltran than Church, in terms of talking to the player in his office to address certain issues.

Update, 5:13 pm:

Manuel said he ‘called out Jose Reyes,’ and talked with him directly about the two base-running mistakes from last week.

Update, 5:17 pm:

The Mets will begin to work more on their defense than their hitting, Manuel said, which is something few teams do in baseball, including taking a full infield drill before most games.

He says he also plans to work with the team on basic base-running drills, because the team is ‘giving away games with the way we have been running the bases.’

Update, 5:21 pm:

Manuel said he does not yet know if Murphy can be the team’s regular, every-day starting first baseman, which is why he will play him there tonight to see where he is at, and what he is capable of.

Murphy will get the opportunity to play first base over the next few games, Manuel said, as the team will face four straight right-handed starting pitchers.

Update, 5:27 pm:

Manuel sees Church as his right fielder, Gary Sheffield will be his left fielder, with Jeremy Reed and Fernando Tatis as his reserve outfielders, Manuel said, suggesting Murphy could soon be outside looking in if he does not succeed in playing first base.

Update, 5:28 pm:

Manuel believes David Wright will emerge as the leader of this team in the absence of Carlos Delgado, and he told Wright he is looking to him to step up.

Update, 5:33 pm:

“I don’t have a problem getting in anybody’s face,” Manuel said, noting he never misses an opportunity to address a player one on one about a mistake, though he will ‘never show a player up publicly.’

He said he doesn’t believe his team lacks discipline, instead he says the team has lacked focus this season.

Lastly, Manuel says the team took Tuesday night’s loss harder than any other loss he can remember, and he believes that is a good thing.

To listen live, go to WFAN.com.

Tagged WFAN |

In a post to his blog for Newsday, David Lennon explains why he is surprised by the level of criticism being directed from fans toward Citi Field.

MetsBlog reader Bill M sent in an e-mail about some of the popular criticism of Citi Field saying…

“Some things I would love to see you comment on: Obstructed view seats; lack of a pre-game lineup on the scoreboard; wait lines for everything; lack of Mets specific icons, banners and statues.”

Bill, I did comment on a few of these things yesterday, here; but, honestly, I did not notice much of these other complaints.  This is not to say they do not exist, I know Joe Benigno and Evan Roberts from WFAN mentioned many of the same complaints, if not more, so I don’t doubt the legitimacy of these concerns. 

I was pretty focused on the game, actually, and since I am pretty much an optimist by nature, it would probably take a whole lot to dissuade me so early.  I tend to look for the best in things, only after that do I start picking everything apart.  Also, I assume Citi Field is a work-in-progress, so I’d rather wait and see how it all shakes later in the year. 

Frankly, I am far more concerned with the 3–4 record.

That said, Mets Exec. Vice Pres. of Business Operations David Howard was a guest of Mike Francesa’s on WFAN yesterday afternoon, and addressed many of the popular complaints on air.

Regarding the much-talked about obstructed view seats, specifically those that lose sight of the ball in the outfield, Howard said:

“The way we characterize ‘obstructed’ is if you have an obstruction, something in front of you – a beam, a pillar, something that’s blocking your view.  That’s not the case here.  It’s a function of the geometry of the building; and it is a conscious decision that we made along with the designers and the architects, that we wanted people to be lower and closer to the field, and have great views, and great views of the action.

“By doing that in fair territory, you are going to have situations where you are going to lose certain blind spots in the deep outfield of those sections.  That is something we understood to be a factor.  It is true in every new ballpark that has seating in the outfield.”

To listen to Howard’s interview, go to WFAN.com; and to read a transcript, go to Mets Today, where Joe Janish does a great job dissecting and responding to much of his remarks.

Tagged WFAN |

According to Peter Wade’s Tumblr, Brooklyn Mutt, J.J. Putz ended his interview with WFAN’s Mike Francesa with the following exchange:

Mike Francesa: Ok, J.J. nice talking to you.

J.J. Putz: It’s always great talking to a Pope.

…excellent… for those who don’t know, people who do not like francesa often refer to him as ‘The Pope,’ in a sarcastic way, in that he presents himself as being high and mighty… so, whether on purpose by putz or not, nice job, j.j.…

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